This is topic "Changegate" / 1000 word flash in "Taran" series in forum Fragments and Feedback for Short Works at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.


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Posted by honu (Member # 8277) on :
 
Hi guys// another "Taran" series flash// does it hook? ver 2 /
quote:

“I was the first human to find and go through a Changegate." I stopped the replay on my recorder and sat it down. My voice sounded so inhuman it was no longer recognizable. I sat back on my haunches and reordered my recollections of the last two moons. A tick crawled across my muzzle. I pinched it's blood-fattened body between my talons and tossed it into my mouth. My own blood is tasty to me. I lifted a hind leg and scratched at the persistent fleas on my neck that tortured me.] Time for another mud-soak. Dawn brought on a renewed sense of hunger. The little rabbit-frog herbivores had dodged my stalking and lunging during the night. I had the instincts but lacked the grace of the form the gate changed me into. The Combined Fleet must

[This message has been edited by honu (edited February 12, 2009).]
 


Posted by Christian (Member # 7825) on :
 
Hey Honu...you are a writing fiend! Congrats on being able to write this much.
I think you have a hook here. I would have definitely read on.

quote:

“I was the first human to find and go through a Changegate."


I found this to be a little awkward. This might read better as: I was the first human to find a Changegate and, subesequently, the first to go through it.
quote:

I sat back on my haunches and reordered my recollections of the last two moons.


I thought that "...reordered my recollections..." might read better as "...reordered my thoughts..."

quote:

My own blood is tasty to me. I lifted a hind leg and scratched at the persistent fleas on my neck that tortured me.] Time for another mud-soak.


This bit took me out of the story because of the transition to present tense. Maybe something like: I enjoyed the taste of my own blood. I lifted a hind leg and scratched at the fleas on my neck <I think it's understood that fleas are persistent and torture to any man, woman, or beast that gets them>.

quote:

I had the instincts of this form the gate changed me into, but not it's grace.

Lastly, this sentence also took me out of the story a bit because it read as awkward.
I might say: Whatever form the gate changed me into, I would get its instincts, but not its grace or skill.

Overall, very good story and premise, and the majority of what I listed is probably personal preference.

Keep up the good work.

~Christian
 


Posted by JohnMac (Member # 8472) on :
 
"My voice sounded so inhuman it was no longer recognizable."

I'm thinking - ok...what's happened here? I wanted to know MORE NOW.

"...reordered my recollections of the last two moons."

Personally, I liked this. 1) to two 'r' words sort of roll off the tongue as I read them aloud and in my mind. 2) using the time reference "two moons" gives recollections a resonation to the word "reflections" - at least as my mind plays with words and sounds.

"My own blood is tasty to me."

Erm, ok. Good way to grab me by the eyeballs again and want more. why, Why, WHY!?


"I had the instincts of this form the gate changed me into, but not it's grace. "

Now I want to know more about what he changed into here. I also find myself wondering "Can he go back through? And will it change him back?"

Just my thoughts.

-John

 


Posted by Christian (Member # 7825) on :
 
On second read though...I think John is right about the "reordered my recollections" sentence. By itself it does read well. But it didn't work for me in the story. Maybe it's the surrounding sentences? Maybe it's personal preference? Maybe it's Mabelline?
 
Posted by Brant Danay (Member # 8087) on :
 
Definitely hooks. I love all the "icky" imagery and concepts.

“I was the first human to find and go through a Changegate."

My initial thought was that "discover and pass through a Changegate", or something similar, might work a little better than "find and go through", but not a big deal.

I stopped the replay on my recorder and sat it down.

Maybe something akin to "replay feature" or just "pressed the stop button" would be smoother.

The little rabbit-frog herbivores had dodged my stalking and lunging during the night.

My first thought was that "stalkings and lungings" might sound better, but not a big deal.

I had the instincts of this form the gate changed me into, but not it's grace.

This sentence reads awkwardly and can probably be improved.

Just a few impressions I had. Maybe they can help you out. Excellent work so far. All the best,

Brant


[This message has been edited by Brant Danay (edited February 12, 2009).]

[This message has been edited by Brant Danay (edited February 12, 2009).]
 


Posted by honu (Member # 8277) on :
 
thank you, Christian, JohnMac, and Brant
 


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